Campanella's Contract, Labine's Lifetime MLB Pass and Roger Craig WS Watch at REA

Following up on yesterdays post featuring some Brooklyn Dodger relics from Ebbets Field and the front office, I now share with you some player related memorabilia to gawk at. 

Below is Roger Craig's 1955 Dodgers World Series Championship watch.  For the Dodgers very first championship each player received a ring and a watch.  Unlike the rings, very few of these watches remain.  Check out the auction here.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

How great would it be to be a bearer of one of these? 

All Major League ballplayers with a certain amount of playing time within the league (I'm uncertain what that is today 8 years for players and 25 years from front office executives) receive a Lifetime Pass to enter into any Major League Baseball game, and below is former Dodger Clem Labine's pass.  It was given to him in 1959.

These items are certainly unique and highly desirable to collectors.  It is the size of a credit card and is made of metal.  The one's I've seen at card shows are far more shinier than this one.  As the auction description states, this pass has moderate tarnishing, including surface blemishes.  No doubt it was well used by Labine.

(Auction Link)

Last year, Roy Campanella's player contract for the 1947 season with the Nashua Dodgers came up for sale (you can see my post about it here), available at REA today is his 1946 Nashua Dodgers contract.  Check it out below.  This is his very first contract with a Major League affiliated club.

Per the auction description:

The one-year agreement calls for Campanella to receive a salary of $185 per month for the 1946 season. However, in addition to his monthly salary, a special clause grants Campanella a bonus of $2,400, payable in unequal quarterly installments. That bonus is important, because otherwise his monthly salary would have amounted to just $1,100 for the season, which was $2,000 less than we was making as a member of the Elite Giants in the Negro League the year prior. 

The following year, 1947, he was granted a monthly raise to $250.00.  BTW, the 1947 contract sold for $7,170 through Heritage Auctions last year.

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 4/7/2015 - Dodger Links - Rollins Big Opening Day, SportsNet LA and Don Zimmer

Jimmie Rollins received an obligatory liquid bath (watch it here, via StadiumBound) from his teammates after a stellar performance at the plate on opening Day against the Padres.  He has no doubt adorned himself to Dodger fans the world over.  Rollins recorded two hits on the evening; including the eventually game-winning three-run home run (Earl Weaver style) in the 8th inning to put the Dodger on top for good.  The photo above is via @Dodgers on twitter.  BTW, you can check out a whole bunch of fantastic photos of the day from Jon SooHoo here.

Clayton Kershaw was good - just not good enough.  He went six innings in a no-decision, recorded nine strike outs and walked two.  New addition Chris Hatcher recorded the first Dodger save of the season.  BTW, Matt Kemp was his old self for the Padres.  He bested Kershaw by getting two hits against him (including a double) and drive in all three runs against our ace.

On a side note, I've seen photos of the Fried Dodger Dog that is now available at Dodger Stadium and I am not impressed.  You can see it here via a tweet from Arash Markazi of ESPN.  I had figured that it would be breaded (kinda like a corn-dog) and fried, but no.  Instead, it looks like a wrinkled and over-done dog.  I'm a little disappointed with what I've seen.  The Meatball Marinara Cone, on the other hand, looks fantastic.

Below are some links to check out:

• Per CBSLA.com, 60 people were given citations for drinking alcohol in Elysian Park on Opening Day. 
• Howard Cole at Forbes shares his recent interview with a talking head at Time Warner regarding the SportsNet LA blackout.  Check it out here.  Based on the complete lack of response from the spokesman, I think it's fair to say that you should not expect any movement towards a broadcast deal for the 70% of customers any time soon.
• Via Jane Wells at CNBC, "Dodgers CEO on TV shutout: 'It's a difficult blow for us.'"

"For us to still have this many fans unhappy, it's a difficult blow for us," said team President and CEO Stan Kasten in an exclusive interview with CNBC. He called the standoff the most difficult customer relations challenge he's ever faced. "I don't know when the solution will come, but it's not for lack of trying, and until it's fixed, we won't give up." 

• BTW, Sling TV CEO (a part of Dish) publicly stated that they are opposed to the Comcast-TWC merger, via a Bloomberg video. 
• Via Corey Brock at MLB.com, "Cheerful Kemp returns to LA with 'good feelings.'"  As you know, Kemp received a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat (JP Hoornstra shares a video here), then received a chorus of boo's during his second (after knocking in a run against Kershaw).

"Weird," Kemp said. "This is my first time on this [visiting] side, so it's a little different, but I've got good feelings about being here today.

• Kershaw's Challenge has released new t-shirts for the 2015 season.  Go here to check them out.  Clayton is modelling it below.  As you know, proceeds benefit Clayton Kershaw's charity.

• Panini America unveiled a bunch of preview pics of their upcoming 2015 Stars & Stripes USA Baseball card set, and Dodger prospect Corey Seager will be in it.  Check out a couple of Seager's cards below.  Go here to check out the other cards in the set.  I am unsure if there are other Dodger players in the set.  BTW, it releases this coming Friday.

• Awesome!  Via Lane DeGregory at the Tampa Bay Times, "Don Zimmer's wife documented every day of his 66 years in pro baseball (w/video)."  Heck, it goes all the way back to high school - when they first met.

"I started it our senior year, just saving everything," she said. She bought the scrapbook at a dime store, along with some of those cardboard corners people used to use to hold pictures.

After doing her homework and having dinner with her parents, and when she wasn't cheering for Don at a game, she would sit in her room with a stack of newspapers, clipping stories about her boyfriend, underlining each mention of his name.

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Some Brooklyn Dodger Rarities Available at REA

One of the more anticipated sports memorabilia auctions in the hobby just opened up, and there are some fantastic Dodger related collectibles up for sale.  Over the next few days I'll share some of my favorites from the REA Spring Auction.  You can check out the entire REA catalog here.

I thought I start by taking a look at some notable Brooklyn Dodger memorabilia.  Featured below is a circa 1950's Brooklyn Dodgers usher's cap dating from Ebbets Field. According to the consignor, it was found in a secondhand store in Brooklyn in the 1970's.

(Auction Link)

I first spoke about this next item back in January.  Featured below is the Brooklyn Dodgers official ledger (penned by Charles Ebbets) showing the teams day-to-day financial operations from April 1899 to December 1900. That's right.  This tattered book tells us everything about how they funded and operating the franchise during its more formative years.

According to the owner, it was originally retrieved from the trash as works crews began tearing down Ebbets Field after the Dodgers left for Los Angeles for the 1959 season.  I can only imagine what other items might have been discarded at that time.

(Auction Link)

Hidden these pages are player salaries, gate receipts and even the mundane cost of mowing the grass.  Via the auction description:

This book is a treasure trove of financial information. All incoming and outgoing funds of the club are recorded. Included are the exact attendance records for Brooklyn's games, with gate receipts broken down by seat prices. Also recorded are all of the concession sales, including peanuts, refreshments, and scorecards. Included on the expenditure side are both player and employee salaries (team owner Charles Ebbets' salary is also recorded numerous times, including in his own hand), as well as the cost for general repair and maintenance of Washington Park, equipment (balls, bats, uniforms, etc.), team stationery, newspaper advertising, a subscription to the Sporting News, and, of course, peanuts (150 pounds of peanuts cost $7.75 in 1900). Players on this powerhouse team include stars such as Hughie Jennings, Joe Kelley, Joe McGinnity, and Willie Keeler, as well as manager Ned Hanlon (all future Hall of Famers). With that remarkable roster of talent, Brooklyn captured the pennant in both 1899 and 1900. Each of the future Hall of Fame players is listed numerous times in the ledger with regard to salary payments and special compensation. The ledger also records the payment of fines to the National League levied against Kelley, Keeler, and Bill Dahlen in 1899; bonuses to McGraw and Wilbert Robinson in 1900; etc. In short, virtually all financial information relating to the business of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1899 and 1900, this volume was Charles Ebbets' single most important record of the club's finances.

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Kershaw Pitches for Subway - Watch his First Commercial

Back in November it was announced that Clayton Kershaw, along with the Angels slugger Mike Trout, would be pitchmen for the Subway sandwich chain.  As I understand it, Kershaw would frequent Subway before each start for his pregame meal, so the pairing made a lot of sense. 

With Opening Day officially here, the first commercial featuring him has been released.  I first saw it during the Easter Sunday game between the Cubs and Cardinals yesterday afternoon.  If you missed it then you can watch it below.  Per the video description, his go-to sandwich is a Turkey and Cheese on 9-Grain Wheat with Jalapeños, Mustard and a little bit of Vinegar.

Video Link:

In case you are interested, here is the Mike Trout commercial.

Video Link:

Photo at the very top, via via Bill Shaikin on twitter.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/6/2015 - Dodger Links - RIP, Billy DeLury

Longtime Dodger employee and constant fixture around everything Dodgers, Bill DeLury, passed away over the weekend.  He joined the club in 1950, the same year Vin Scully became an broadcaster, and did just about every job imaginable for the club as he rose up the ladder.  For 20 years he was the teams traveling secretary, and in recent years was the assistant to the broadcasters and to the traveling secretary.  No doubt, he will be sorely missed.

Per a Dodger press release:

“Billy's consistent dedication and outstanding character were both an inspiration in our front office as well as a daily reminder of our roots in Brooklyn,” Dodger president and CEO Stan Kasten said. “His presence will be missed by all who knew him.”

“I was privileged to know Bill DeLury for more than 60 years from the time he was an office boy in Brooklyn and rose to become a most valuable member of the organization as our traveling secretary,” said Vin Scully. “A Dodger from head to toe.  A respected baseball man.  And a deeply religious husband and father. Anyone and everyone in baseball who knew Bill will mourn his passing and he will be truly missed.”

Mark Langill, the Dodgers official historian, pens a great piece at Dodger Insider in his honor, here.  Evan Bladh at Think Blue LA also has an excellent piece worth checking out, here.

Photo at the very top is of Billy DeLury being introduced at Dodgertown in 1995, via Jon SooHoo.  Check out more pics from Jon's vault of DeLury here.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Megan Zahneis at MLB.com, "Proud new father Kershaw set for action."

"You are never bored. You always have something to do. She is starting to have a real personality and loves to smile," Kershaw said with a smile lighting up his face. "It is pretty fun."

• Ryu on the mend.  Via a tweet from Ken Gurnick:

Ryu begins throwing Monday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 4, 2015

• Via Anthony Witrado at ESPN, "Dodgers add another arm in Scott Baker."  Also, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers acquire Minor League pitcher (Rudy) Owens from Oakland."  Both of these are minor league deals.  They add additional depth to the Dodgers and both will report to AAA.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Mattingly says analytics have yielded new insights."

“As we’re learning more about it, seeing a different set of numbers and ways to evaluate, it’s interesting to see how certain guys kind of fit in, where they’ve been really good and where their deficiencies are,” Mattingly said. “That’s been the most interesting part for me, going over player plans and things like that and seeing how different guys are really good at one thing — that you kind of noticed, but you didn’t really know to paint that picture — it’s been nice doing that.”

• Blue Skinny Fan was a Frank & Sons on Saturday to get Eric Gagne's signature.  Check out his trip report here.
• Via Bill Plaschke at the LA Times, we find out that Dodger organist Nancy Bea Hefley's role during games has been drastically reduced.  Boo!  Boo!  

Missing will be the soothing sound of a ballpark organ, as 28-year veteran Nancy Bea Hefley's workload has been reduced to one song during the actual game. One. She waits for seven innings, plays "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," and goes home.

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Opening Series Against Padres - Opening Day Festivities, Game Give Aways and Other Stuff! UPDATED!

Opening Day!  The first homestand of the season begins with the San Diego Padres on Monday.  Please remember that there are tailgating restrictions in place around Dodger Stadium for Opening Day.  Neighborhoods in the Echo Park and Solana Canyon areas will have two-hour parking and there will be no parking in the "Avenue of the Palms" area of Elysian Park.  You should expect the LAPD to be out in force.  So, please be safe and don't be stupid.  Go here for more information.

Matt Kemp will be in town for the first time since being traded over the winter.  All I can say is please don't boo him.  He was a great Dodger and deserves our respect.

Below are various odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.  So far I only have detailed information for Opening Day.  As soon as more information is made available for the following two games I will updated this post with that data.  So, be sure to check back here for those updates. BTW, there are no scheduled autograph guest on Opening Day.

(New foods, pic via Jon Weisman)

There are a bunch of new foods and concessions to discover at Dodger Stadium.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has a bunch of information here and here.  New foods include:

• Lasorda’s Meatball Marinara Specialty Fries (Tommy Lasorda’s Trattoria)
• Lasorda’s Meatball Marinara Cone (Tommy Lasorda’s Trattoria)
• La Taqueria’s Carne Asada Specialty Fries (Field and Reserve levels)
• Breaded Chicken Sandwich and Tenders (Field and Reserve levels)
• Fried Dodger Dogs at Extreme Loaded Dogs location on Field level (Aisle 48)

Go here for Dodger Stadium Express Union Station and Dodger Stadium Express South Bay services here.  Also, there will be metal detectors at entrances into the stadium.  Only bags with dimensions that comply with the MLB standard of 16”x16”x8” will be allowed in. 

Video Link:

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Monday, April 6th at 1:10 PM
RHP James Shields vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw

Monday's game starts at 1:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 10:00 AM, and stadium gates open at 10:00 AM. This game is sold out.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Dodgers 2015 magnet schedule.

There will be live music throughout the stadium from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  DJ Lady Shawill be in the left-field reserve level, The Trip in the right-field reserve level, Angel City Dixieland Band will play throughout the reserve level and The Blue Agave, a mariachi act, and DJ Adam will provide entertainment in the right-field plaza. A magician will also provide entertainment in the left field plaza. The Budweiser Clydesdales will make a special appearance at 12:30 PM. Fans can visit the iconic Clydesdales in Dodger Stadium’s parking lots.

Dodger in-game hosts will be joined by George Lopez and Mary Hart. RCA recording artist and L.A. native Tinashe will present a pregame concert at 12:25 PM. She will perform her Billboard Hot 100 hit “2 On” and her current single “All Hands On Deck.”

Tinashe will also perform the national anthem. Representatives from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force will present our nation’s colors. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces will unfurl a giant flag, a display in the shape of the United States, in center field.

The U.S. Navy will conduct a flyover with two Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet Fighter Jets. The flyover will be conducted by VFA-122, a Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Air Station in Lemoore. The Super Hornet is the U.S. Navy’s premiere aircraft carrier-based fighter attack platform which features both a F/A-18 E single seat and F/A-18 F dual seat variant of the Super Hornet.

• For the fifth consecutive season, the Dodgers will pay tribute to the men and women of our nation’s Armed Forces by honoring a “Military Hero of the Game.” Opening Day’s veteran of the game is U.S. Air Force Staff Senior Airman Stephen D. Hudson Jr., the winner of the Dodgers’ annual Veterans Day Batting Practice Day hitting contest. Hudson, a Rialto native, was deployed to Kuwait in 2011 and received an Army Achievement Medal for his deployment. He is currently stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. 
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation conducts silent auctions featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully Press Box on the Club level. The items up for auction on Opening Day include an Adrian Gonzalez autographed photo, Yasiel Puig autographed baseball and Clayton Kershaw autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 2:45 p.m.

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Tuesday, April 7th at 7:10 PM
RHP Tyson Ross vs. RHP Zack Greinke

Tonight's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.

Indy 500 Car champion Ryan Hunter Reay will throw the ceremonial first pitch tomorrow and Elena Sogard, former Dodger Steve Sax’s niece, will perform the national anthem.

It appears that the Dodgers have decided to forgo the free autograph sessions they had last season and replaced it with photo opportunities for fans.  For Tuesday's game, Dodger great Orel Hershiser will take photos with fans from 6:45 PM to 7:10 PM in the Time Warner Cable left-field pavilion as part of SportsNet LA’s activation (I don't know what activation means since 70% of the Southland still can't watch games.  But I digress.).  Obviously, that's not a very long time period, so you will probably need to get their early and wait in line; with the understanding that not everyone can get a photo.  Also, I doubt autographs will be allowed due to the short amount of time available.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Alejandro Salazar of Oxnard. Salazar served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 while assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion. He served aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and was deployed to 7th Fleet AOR. Salazar is currently stationed with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three in Port Hueneme.

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 Wednesday, April 8th at 7:10 PM
RHP Andrew Cashner vs. LHP Brandon McCarthy

Tonight's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.  Tonight is the second give-away of the season.  The first 40,000 fans will receive an Adult Replica Batting Practice Pullover Jacket.  Check out a photo of it on the right.

The recently retired American soccer great and former Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, a longtime Dodger fan, who will throw the ceremonial first pitch.  Interscope recording artist Jasmin V will perform the national anthem.

Nomar Garciaparra is scheduled to take photos with fans from 6:45 PM to 7:10 PM in the Time Warner Cable left-field pavilion as part of SportsNet LA’s activation. 

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Army Specialist Steven Hardy of Fresno. Hardy served in Operation Nimbus I and II, assisting the Border Patrol in Arizona and is currently stationed at the Army Reserves in Fresno.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully Press Box on the Club level. The items up for auction on Wednesday include a Joc Pederson autographed photo, Howie Kendrick autographed baseball and Zack Greinke autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 p.m.

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